January 8, 2010

German pig numbers seen to grow this year

The total German pig production will grow by 3% to 57.8 million heads this year, according to the German organisation for agricultural and retail companies Deutsche Raiffeisenverband (DRV).

DRV expects that imports of piglets and finishers can grow by 9% to a number of 1.3 million animals; live pig exports are expected to decrease slightly.

In 2009, a total of 56 million pigs were slaughtered in Germany, which equaled a 2% revenue growth for the meat production and manufacturing industry. Meanwhile, pork supplies increased by 2.5% to 5.25 million tonnes. Taking into account a decrease of domestic demand of approximately 1.6%, the self sufficiency rate for 2009 came down to 108%.

DRV added that the German livestock and meat industry managed to maintain production figures of 2008 throughout 2009. Total revenue is estimated to be approximately EUR4.8 billion.

In the period between January and October 2009, meat exports came down by 7% to EUR4.48 billion. Exports to Russia, traditionally an important country for Germany, came down 9% to EUR336 million. The actual amount of kilogrammes shipped to Russia, however, went up by 3.3%, equaling 278.500 tonnes of meat.

Exports to Poland remained stable, in euros. Until October, Germany exported about EUR370 million; in kg exports grew by 14%.

In addition, also Italy, France and the Netherlands imported German meat and meat products. Exports to Italy decreased by 9.6% to €833 million. Exports to the Netherlands came down by 10.3% to EUR794 million. Exports to France dropped by 9.1% to EUR624 million.